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January Visa Bulletin Update: Final Action Dates to determine eligibility

21 Dec 16

UNITED STATES

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Serviceshas announcedthat in January it will only accept employment-based adjustment-of-status applications based on the Application Final Action Dates chart.

The Dates for Filing chart, published in the State Department’s January Visa Bulletin, will not apply. Employment-based immigrants must follow the Application Final Action Dates chart (below) to determine if they are eligible to file their adjustment-of-status petitions with USCIS. Only applicants with priority dates earlier than the dates listed in the chart will be permitted to file their applications for adjustment of status in January.

Application Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases:

Preference

China

El Salvador Guatemala Honduras

India

Mexico

Philippines

All Other Countries

EB-1

Current

Current

Current

Current

Current

Current

EB-2

Oct. 15, 2012

Current

April 15, 2008

Current

Current

Current

EB-3

Sept. 8, 2013

Aug. 1, 2016

March 15, 2005

Aug. 1, 2016

July 22, 2011

Aug. 1, 2016

This marks the first time in the 2017 fiscal year that the Dates for Filing chart will not apply to employment-based filings. Family-based immigrants, however, will be permitted to use the Dates for Filing chart applicable to family-sponsored immigrants, which also is contained in the January Visa Bulletin.